Disney star defends remarrying after first husband's death

Is there any such thing as “too soon” when it comes to finding love again after a spouse dies? Some of Tiffany Thornton’s critics assert that there is.

The former Disney star — whose first husband, Chris Carney, died in a car accident in 2015 — married new love Josiah Capaci in a ceremony she shared on Instagram on Sunday, dubbing it, “Best day of my life.”

And while the flood of commenters appear to be supportive and congratulatory, some have apparently called Thornton out for being disloyal, according to the long follow-up post she added in self-defence.

“This. This is love. That all encompassing, enduring, accepting, near perfect love,” she wrote.

“The kind that trumps my need to snap back at people who have the audacity to comment on my Instagram about whether I loved my first husband or not. But let me take a moment to explain something to you.

“There is no timeline for grief or for when God moves in your life in undeniable ways.”

Thornton, who starred in Sonny With a Chance and So Random!, went on to say that her love for her new husband in no way indicates that she didn’t whole-heartedly love her first husband.

“I will always love Chris and Jo knows that. And I will always love Jo. The beautiful thing about love is that it multiplies as new blessings come into your life.

“I don’t have to share one bucket of love with the special people in my life. Each one has their own bucket. Get it? Isn’t that amazing?? God’s timing is not our own. And I praise Him for that. You should too.”

Thornton had announced her engagement to Capaci, a Gospel Light Church worship pastor, in August. And while her move into a new relationship after such a traumatic loss likely required some emotional work on her part, it’s one that is certainly not out of the norm.

By 25 months after a spouse’s death, 61 percent of men and 19 percent of women were either remarried or involved in a new romance, according to a 1996 study (which is out of date, but consistent with even older findings).

“It may be helpful for family, friends, and therapists to know that dating and remarriage are common and appear to be highly adaptive behaviours among the recently bereaved,” the study noted.

Still, some people just can’t help but criticise when a survivor moves into another relationship.

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